A statement released by the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking announced an official partnership between the Orlando Rescue and Restore Coalition and the city of Orlando.

The organization said the Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day is scheduled for Jan. 16. 2011, at the Lake Eola Amphitheater.

The statement calls human trafficking “modern-day slavery” and said victims include young children, teens, women and men.

“Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor,” the statement said.

According to the Rescue and Restore Campaign, while many victims are forced to work in prostitution or the sex entertainment industry, trafficking can affect labor exploitation including restaurant, janitorial and factory work.

This is excellent news! I am so happy to see that Orlando has taken the issue of human trafficking so seriously. I can tell you that our Orlando office has seen more and more trafficking cases in the Central Florida area. Not saying that there has been an increase but the community has become more vigilant. This has been accomplished by all of the awareness that F.C.A.H.T has raised in the area. Human trafficking is prevalent in the state of Florida. Florida is considered to be one of the 3 top desinations for human trafficking to occur. Traffickers will continue to exploit and enslave here in Florida until the entire state stands up and says ” No” to slavery.
I challenge all of the other mayors throughout the entire state of Florida to follow in the footsteps of Mayor Buddy Dyer. Let people know that you will not tolerate this type of illicit activity in your city.

So again congrats to Mayor Buddy Dyer and city commissioners for stepping up to the plate and letting the traffickers know that the City of Orlando will not tolerate human trafficking.